Recent Tasting Notes

My Grandpaps would have been 93 today on this Groundhog Day. I miss him dearly! I used to love spending time with him drinking tea and watching British comedies & mysteries. He gave me an appreciation for his music: Big Band, Swing, & some Jazz. He loved Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, The Dorsey Brothers: Tommy & Jimmy, Harry James and Lawrence Welk to name just a few. So I still think of him quite often and all the great times we shared, usually while sipping tea. His cup of choice was Lipton, or preferably the Canadian Red Rose tea, which was/is different, and much better than the Red Rose available on American supermarket shelves.

I am reviewing a tea, that—to the best of my knowledge—he never tasted. Lyons Gold Blend is a mixture of African, Assam, and Ceylon teas. They claim to have a unique process where they extract the flavor from the leaves in pressing, then add it back later for a more flavorful cup. Dry leaves do smell fresh and clean, and many times I do get a bright character—and possibly some wood aspects….as well as a clean & crisp scent from Ceylon teas. I do smell more of the African & Assam teas in the wet leaves The cup color is a beautiful deep brown, with aromas I associate with quality African teas and malty Assam teas. I also smell molasses, which I have only smelled in one Ceylon (the name escapes me) I tried a few years ago.

Flavors are mostly lovely malt, with some woody aspects, but none of the crisp bright flavors or molasses I noted in the aromas. The full body clings to my palate and lingers quite a while, with a deep flavor & no bitterness. I only added a touch of milk to a second cup. The deep flavor was still strong, but the milk muted some of the amazing flavors and aromas noted in the first cup. This Gold Blend is very good with & without milk, but I would usually drink it neat.

Lyons Gold Blend is a really fresh, bold, and delicious blend that is stout without being bitter. Of all the British teabag teas I’ve tried, it has a smoothness & freshness that makes it one of my favorites! :-) I believe my Paps would really enjoy this tea, as an occasional diversion from Lipton. I would drink it anytime, and only wish I could share this tea with him while listening to Sinatra or Glenn Miller. Here’s some of his/our favorites. :-)

I’ve wanted to try this one. My go-to is often Yorkshire Tea, and Gold. I like many kinds, but a strong black tea can be very comforting. I also watch a lot of British comedies, a tradition that started with my dad when I was around 11. Great memories, and a great sounding tea!

Indigo, it has been a while since I’ve had a cuppa Yorkshire Harrogate, which I also liked very much. The Lyons Gold is maltier than I remember Yorkshire Harrogate being. I also just bought my second tin of Taylor’s of Harrogate, TEAROOMBLEND. A very flavorful blend I will review soon. :-)

I have tried the blend, but funnily enough in a different tea room (a place called Creams, I’m not sure if it’s a chain or not). I would love to visit their tea room but unfortunately haven’t been – yet. I was in giddy birthday mode and drank several teas so I don’t remember it as clearly as I’d like, but it was one of my favourites of the afternoon. (:

My partner is from Ireland, and this is the only black tea I drink now (I love it)! Ireland seems to be split between Barry’s and Lyon’s tea, I’ve tried both, and Lyon’s is definitely the winner for me! We bring back boxes of the stuff every time we visit.

Mom & Dad brought back a box of this for me when they went to Ireland last summer. I’ve been slowly sipping my way through it. This has become my morning coffee alternate when I don’t have time to brew a cup of pour-over coffee or my travel mug is dirty. It’s not too bitter, particularly when I add a little honey and milk. I don’t know if I’ll buy another box when this one is gone, but I am enjoying it for what it is.

I have been educated on Irish Tea by a man straight from Ireland with strong opinions about tea. He told me he grew up on this stuff and loved it. He said they always had a pot ready for company. I bought a box and tried it. Not bad at getting me up and out of the door. Good flavor. I will pass it along to my friends.

Preparation

On our trip to Ireland my boyfriend and I decided to get tea for the kitchen in our lodge room. We picked this on a whim from the nearest centra. It has become his favorite tea on earth. I have since been trying to get it for him online, but it has been a challenge. This tea is a really nice black that’s not too bitter and is quite smooth. We’re fans of adding cream and sugar. I like my tea piping hot and strong so it can be a bit too smooth for me. It’s nothing compared to PG Tips in terms of strength and briskness.